Add Page Numbers to PDF
Stamp page numbers on every page of a PDF in any corner, with formats such as 1, 1 / N or Page 1 of N. You can also add a custom header and footer line
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Stamp page numbers onto every page of a PDF, in whichever corner you prefer, using formats such as "1", "1 / N" or "Page 1 of N". You can also add a header and footer line, start counting from a different number, choose the font size and skip the cover page so that a title page stays clean.
This is the usual last step before sending a contract, a report or a thesis: the document is complete but the pages are unnumbered, which makes it awkward to reference, print or bind. Numbering is added locally with pdf-lib - the file is never uploaded, so confidential contracts stay confidential.
How to add page numbers to a PDF
Add your PDF
Choose position, format and start number
Download the numbered PDF
FAQ
Can I skip the first page?
Yes. Enable "skip cover page" and numbering starts on the second page while the counter still treats the cover as page 1, so the numbers match the real page order.
Which number formats are available?
"1", "1 / 5", "Page 1", "Page 1 of 5" and a custom pattern with the {n} and {N} placeholders, so you can build formats such as "Seite 1 von 5" in any language.
Can I add a header or footer text too?
Yes, there is a separate field for a custom line of text that is printed at the top or bottom of every page - useful for a document title, a client name or a confidentiality note.
Does it work with Chinese, Japanese or Arabic text?
Yes. Non-Latin characters are rendered with a built-in canvas fallback when the standard PDF fonts cannot represent them, so the header text appears correctly instead of as empty boxes.
Will the numbering overwrite my content?
No. Numbers and header lines are drawn on top of the existing page in a corner you choose, leaving the original text and images untouched.
Is the PDF uploaded?
No. The document is processed entirely in your browser.
Can I leave the cover page unnumbered?
Yes. Set the first printed number to 1 and start numbering from the second page, so the cover carries no number while the following page reads "1".
Which numbering format should I use?
"Page N" is the usual choice. "Page N of M" is better for contracts and reports, where the reader needs to know how much is left.
Can I control position and size?
Yes - six positions (top or bottom, left, centre or right), a font size, and a margin from the page edge so the number does not crowd the content.
What if the PDF already has page numbers?
The new numbers are added on top; the originals remain part of the page content underneath. If that looks wrong, use a version of the document that does not already have numbers printed on it.
At a glance
| Input | |
|---|---|
| Multiple files | No |
| Where it runs | In your browser - files are never uploaded |
| Works offline | Yes — once the page has loaded |
| Price | Free, no sign-up, no watermark |
PDF versions, standards and compatibility
PDF 1.4 is readable by essentially everything and is the safe default for forms and general sharing. PDF 1.7 added better compression and is what most modern software writes. PDF/A is an archival variant that embeds every font and forbids outside dependencies so the file will still render identically in twenty years - archive offices and some government submissions require it, and it is a poor choice for everyday files because it is larger. Encrypted PDFs need the protection removed before any other tool can touch them, and a permissions (owner) password is weaker than an open password: it is meant to discourage printing and copying, not to keep anyone out.
What actually makes a PDF large
Almost all of a bulky PDF is images, not text. A ten-page scan can be 40 MB while a 300-page text document is often under 2 MB. That is why compression targets embedded pictures: it downsamples them to a sensible resolution (150 dpi is usually enough for on-screen reading, 300 dpi only if someone will print it) and re-encodes them more efficiently. Text, bookmarks, links and form fields cost almost nothing and should never need to be removed. If a file stays large after compression, it usually contains either a lot of high-resolution images that the compression setting did not touch, or embedded fonts and attachments you can strip.